Laura Ingalls from the Little House

 

This is Laura Ingalls from Little House on the Prairie written by Laura Ingalls Wilder in the 1930's and set in 1870's America.
I wanted to learn how to make a traditional Poke Bonnet with the ribbon and the draw string back for adjustment. It was really interesting to construct and far more complex than I first thought but so enjoyable.
I went looking for fabrics and colours redolent of the place and time so she is dressed in warm beiges and denim blues with rich cinnamon linen.
With her bonnet and stout boots she is ready for a day in the prairie grasslands.
She carries a counted threadwork sampler sachet and has a little embroidery hoop brooch that is complete and can be removed and worn. She has deep blue eyes with brunette pigtails and a gentle smile. All hand embroidered and hand styled. She was a joy to make xx

My First Heidi

 

This little girl is Heidi, from the Swiss Alps. She is a character from a book by Johanna Spyri written in German in 1880. There are two books usually published in one volume and the tell the story of Heidi who is orphaned very young and goes to live with Aunt Dete before settling in the mountains with her Grandpa and the two goats Barli and Swanli. Life changes dramatically when Aunt Dete takes Heidi to be a companion to Clara in the Frankfurt. Pining for the mountains and her old life Heidi looses her joyful spirit and is so diminished the family return her to the mountains where Clara comes to visit.
My Heidi is dressed in her best outfit for a visit from Clara. A full dirndl skirt with an embroidered felt and laced waistcoat with a pretty floral blouse. Wearing her trusty bobble hat and her stout felt boots she is still ready for a walk in the meadows. Carrying a tiny brooch in a hoop of the meadow which comes off and can be worn separately.
In the story Heidi is described as having black hair and black eyes with a rosy complexion and always a smile. My Heidi has brown eyes because that is how I see her and curly wool tops in black for her hair. She was a joy to make and one of my favourite stories as a little girl.Heidis Lehr- und Wanderjahre und Heidi kann brauchen, was es gelernt hat xx

Coraline

 

This is my first Coraline(Sold) and she was a delight to make.
Dressed in her classic yellow coat with cropped jeans and a red leather bag, she is ready for an adventure.
Her coat is lined with blue gingham to pick up the colours in her hair, which is blue wool tops. She is wearing a black and white stripped top to match her black and white stripped socks. She has her classic yellow boots with a black sole.
Her eyes are bright blue frosted glass beads with a smile. In her pocket she carries a tiny Other Mother for company. Her coat is finished with lots of tiny buttons and cuff details with a pleated back.
She is a OOAk doll and will not be repeated but I will revisit the character in the future. Coraline is one of my favourite film character being a lover of quirky animation and unusual stories!

Harleen Quinzel, A Baby Harley Quinn

 

This little girl is Harleen, a baby Harley Quinn. For such an iconic character she made her first appearance in the Batman canon in 1992 in Batman's Animated Series only reaching the comics in 1993. I love the aesthetic, the black and red is so striking and she is such a fiesty character.
Dressed in black and white Tim Holtz harlequin patterned fabric with a red dot cotton contrast, her jester collar is white cotton broderie anglais with tiny bells.
She has bicoloured felt boots and carries what is to become her iconic mask with a tiny jester charm. Accented with black and white and red and white gingham ribbon and finished with lots of tiny buttons she is very smart in her best dress.
Being a big fan of the bat she was a joy for me to make as were her sisters Poisen Ivy and Catwoman both as little girls. Just love Batman's Bad Girls!

Iris, For Hope on Easter Sunday

 

This little girl is Iris and iris flowers are the bringers of hope in the language of flowers. She is one of five new Fairytale and Fable dolls now on the shop. From Coraline to Harley Quinn they reflect my favourites from contempory fairy story.
This little girl is dressed in a Liberty print called Iris Muriel from Postcards from the Highlands collection. Teamed with lilac chambray and white tulle. She a single appliqued and embroidered iris flower to her apron while sporting a pretty sampler pillow.
Made from Powder Puff wool felt, her face and hair are hand styled. Her hair being a warm lilac wool tops with her eyes a deep plum frosted glass. She is finished with a tweedy Rowan yarn bobble hat and wool felt boots.
On this Easter Sunday, hope seemed the right message to offer. For all the madness in the world I hope you have a gentle Easter or Oestre, whichever is for you xx